96 column card turnaround document

ABSTRACT

The specification and drawings disclose a method and apparatus for forming data processing cards where information is encoded on the card by means of punches which additionally form a perforated parting line in the card.

[451 Apr. 16, 1974 Primary Examiner-J. M. Meister Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Laurence .1. Marhoefer [5 7] ABSTRACT The specification and drawings disclose a method and apparatus for forming data processing cards where information is encoded on the card by means of punches which additionally form a perforated parting line in the card.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures DOCUMENT Inventor: John T. Potter, Locust Valley, NY.

Assignee: Potter Instrument Company, Inc.,

' Plainview, NY.

Aug. 4, 1972 [21] Appl. No.1 277,898

234/41, 234/39, 234/131 I G06k l/02 234/38, 39, 41, 131

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1938 3 Hart et 234/39 x United States Patent Potter 96 COLUMN CARD TURNAROUNID [22] Filed:

[51] Int. [58] Field of Search 1| 4 A N s z 2 CD o 00 000 000 c o o o 000 D P 0 one F. n m f M a a M 2 0 00 MW 000 o M 4 o o 000 W Q0 0 W 000 oo o L P mm 40m WOW C D N m pfPFOP/VTOP ppm/7' CONT/90L 96 COLUMN CARD TURNAROUND DOCUMENT BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY This invention relates to the method and apparatus for producing documents in which binary information is encoded in the binary form of holes in the documents and more particularly to an improved method in apparatus for producing such a document for use as a socalled turnaround document.

Turnaround documents contain binary coded information in the form of punched holes and are used in a wide variety of applications all including particularly billing applications. The document which is sent to the customer contains information printed in alphanumerical as well as the binary coded information in the form of holes. The document is separable into two parts along a perforated line. One part is designed for retention by the customer and the other part is de-v signed for return with the payment, for example. Owing to the fact that information is encoded in the form of holes in the return portion, it can quickly and reliably be processed by relatively inexpensive machinery. The

turnaround documents of the prior art are perforated along the parting line prior to being fed into the data processing apparatus in which the information is encoded. Such preperforated cards are expensive and are difficult to handle in the encoding apparatus.

The object of this invention, therefore, is the provision of a method and apparatus for inexpensively preparing the punched card turnaround documents. An other object of the invention is to provide such a method which is particularly well suited for producing small quantities of such documents and still another object of the invention is the provision of a method and apparatus which allows placement of a parting line or parting lines in any desired configuration.

Briefly, this invention contemplates the provision of a column of closely spaced punches which extend across the entire width of the document and which are used selectively. to both encode information in the document by punching holes therein and to form a parting line.

The Drawings Having briefly described this invention, it will be described in greater detail along with other objects and advantages in the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment which may be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings form part of the instant specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views;

FIG. 1 is a 96 column card of the type used in this invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of one embodiement of the invention with parts thereof shown schematically.

FIG. 3 is a'schematic drawing of one embodiement of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring now to FIG. 1, the general reference numeral denotes a so-called 96 column card of the type used in data processing. The holes punched into the card to encode binary data thereon are 0.045 inches in diameter; the center-to-center spacing between any two adjacent holes in a vertical column is 0.087 inches. Similarly, the spacing between columns is 0.087 inches. It should be noted that the invention is particularized with respect to this standard 96 column card. However, it may be .used with other similar punched cards having hole-to-hole spacing and formats.

The card 10 has a region A which contains 32 vertical columns of 18 hole positions each. A region B about 0.95 inches wide at the top of the card is free of hole positions and can be imprinted with alpha-numeric data. A margin D between the lowest hole position in each column and the bottom of the card is 1.87 inches wide.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 a pair of rollers 13 frictionally engage the card 10 and translate it along a base or platen 16 past a punch head 12 and an imprinting head 17. The print head 17 and its print controller 21 may be of a suitable design well known in the prior art.

The punch head 12, which is disposed orthogonally to the direction of card translation, contains a series of individual punches l4. Punches 14 are arranged in the head 12 so that they span the entire width of the card. Each punch is adapted to produce a hole 0.045 inches in diameter and the center-to-center spacing between respective adjacent punches is 0.087 inches.

The stepping motor 26 connected to the rollers 13 translates the card from left to right, for example, in FIG. 3. The leading edge of the card is sensed by a suitable sensor (not shown) and thereafter the position of the card with respect to the punches 14 can be determined simply by counting the number of pulses coupled to the motor from a data encoder controller 28. While encoding data the punches 14 at the top and bottom of the card are not used. When card 10 reaches a position with respect to the punches 14 at which it is desired to create a parting line, a suitable signal is coupled from the controller 28 to a perforator control 32. The data encoder controller and perforator control cause all the punches 14 extending across the entire width of the card 10 to fire before the card is advanced to its next position. This forms a perforated line 34 along which the card can be quickly and readily separated into two parts.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, certain features may be used independently and equivalents may be substituted.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming a punched card turnaround document comprising, in combination:

a row of punches,

means for translating a card of predetermined dimensions past said row of punches,

means for determining the position of said card with respect to said punches,

means including said position determining means for actuating punches in said row for perforating said card in predetermined regions in order to encode information thereon, and

means for actuating said punches to cause a line of perforations to extend continuously from one border of said card to another border of said card. 

1. An apparatus for forming a punched card turnaround document comprising, in combination: a row of punches, means for translating a card of predetermined dimensions past said row of punches, means for determining the position of said card with respect to said punches, means including said position determining means for actuating punches in said row for perforating said card in predetermined regions in order to encode information thereon, and means for actuating said punches to cause a line of perforations to extend continuously from one border of said card to another border of said card. 